e-cig charger warning

[Deleted]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33489427

Shame they don't mention iphones/smart phones as well but still. Not too bad on Radio 4 this am - quite balanced and onus on person who uses a charger to be more sensible

JAne

[JayJ]

What I'm picking up on this story isn't such a bad thing. The article gives the impression that the majority of the fires are user error in that sub standard cheap equipment is the likely cause.

The figures are only reported cases of batteries going mental but the powers that be can only go on reported or official figures. So, 100 reported fires over 2 years, well let's average that out at 50 a year out of 2,000,000 users. That's a percentage of 0.0025. I know it's still worrying and it would be wonderful if it was zero but I don't find that figure particularly scary.

Pinched from The Guardian.
"Washing machines account for around 600 fires a year, tumble dryers more than 500, dishwashers 460, ovens 350, and fridges and freezers 300."

I know there's many more of these appliances in the UK than there are Ecigs so accident figures may well be expected to be higher but these appliances are meant to have passed strict safety standards so some kind of perspective can be drawn. Another point is that the majority of users of the above appliances will at some point have left the house and left them running. We try and police ourselves and say don't leave Ecigs charging unattended. If everybody took that advice on Ecigs how close to zero fires could we get ?

Jay

[Bobsbeer]

Call me paranoid, but this was an attempt to smear e-cigs. There is no mention of other types of charger, or other items that use batteries from phones to toys. All run the same risk. I know we always see and hear reports of unscrupulous people selling sub standard chargers, and the associated fire risks. We all know of the risks, or should know. Perhaps the LGA is right there should be better warnings and instructions on devices regarding charging. It is a real risk. I just wonder why they have singled out e cigs, when this is a more universal risk?

[JayJ]

Bobsbeer I'm not sure it was an attempt to smear. I watched the bbc news this morning and it came across as the majority of these fires could be avoided if the correct Chargers were used for the correct devices and devices of questionable quality were best avoided.

I mentioned the household appliances and the risk they posed to demonstrate the comparison very briefly. Articles regarding these issues in appliances have been published by the bbc a few times but that's not a smear on our washing machines etc.

I think this mornings news article isn't necessarily a bad thing. This article may prevent new Ecig users from going the £5 carboot kit and instead they might make sure the kit they buy is from more reliable source, that the charger they are provided with is suitable etc. most members here appreciate these warnings. New users might think getting set up for a fiver from a dubious source is a great idea. The article is saying the cause of the fires is maybe avoidable in some cases if using the correct equipment.

We here know the risks iffy equipment poses and if it's causing life threatening situations it should be publicised. As vapers we have become a little paranoid I think and not unduly so but articles like this do not worry me.

Jay

[Bobsbeer]

I don't dispute the risks, of course they are real, and as you say JayJ in most cases avoidable. Nor am I suggesting they should have put this in perspective with other white goods. However the problem they are highlighting is battery charging. These days there are many many different types of product that needs charging. ECigs being just one of many. But the article focused on just one product, which caused 60 call outs nationwide in 2014. Stories like this need to put things in perspective. How many were caused charging RC cars/copters or other battery operated devices? 60 call outs may be a big number, and no doubt the real figure of fires is way higher, when you add in the number that are dealt with without recourse to the fire services.

Having said that, I can see why ecig charging can be an issue especially compared to phones or toys etc. Most phones come with a dedicated mains charger, and will be used solely with the phone. The problem is the micro usb connection. This style of connection has been adopted for many rechargeable products. It is easy for people to grab a phone charger and plug it into an ecig without even thinking what power is coming out of the charger, and if it is suitable. The plug looks the same, and fits, therefore it is tempting to use it. With the rise in popularity of vaping this risk will increase. Perhaps we should be campaigning to tackle that risk by changing the connection, or new ecigs be supplied with a mains charger, not just the short usb cable.

[djs]

What is good is that these articles, which are repeated word-for-word on a few news websites, seems to present the facts and a warning. No twisting of the knife as far as I can tell.
Glad to see this type of non-confrontational reporting.

[scaffman69]

It`s just facts and figures really and nowt detrimental towards ecigs. Im pretty sure i`ve seen this type of thing on tv about cheap phone chargers coming oit of China on more than one occasion too tbf.

[Ripshod]

Pretty balanced information - the main point is problems caused by using the wrong chargers.

I have no objection at all thumb up

Why anyone would object I have no idea - at least they've gotten over the notion that e-cigs are bad for you, and even admit in the report that they help smokers quit!!